Tornados drop pair to Lander on Thursday

March 8, 2012

Boykin and Davenport lead Tornados at the plate against Bearcats

Greenwood, S.C. - Emily Boykin and Meredith Davenport led the Tornados at the plate on Thursday afternoon at Doug Spears Field, but Brevard was unable to push across the run to open the offensive floodgates in falling in a doubleheader sweep to Lander, 3-0 and 4-0.

The Tornados fall to 9-11 on the season, while Lander improves to 12-12 overall.

The Bearcats plates runs in each of the first three innings and held off the Tornados as Lander recorded the victory in the first game of the doubleheader on Thursday afternoon. Kelsey Davis (1-2) picked up the win for the Bearcats, while Kayla Clemens (6-5) took the loss for Brevard.

Brittney Sheriff gave Lander a 1-0 lead in the first inning when she tripled then scored on Taylor Donson's groundout. The Bearcats stretched the margin to 2-0 in the second on Casey Corbitt's RBI double to right centerfield. Donson led off third inning with a home run over the left center wall to make it 3-0.

For Lander, Donson batted 2-for-3, while Meredith Davenport went 2-for-3 for the Tornados.

In the second game, Lander plated a run in the first inning of the contest and led the rest of the way, silencing a Brevard comeback attempt in the sixth inning as the Bearcats closed out the sweep over the Tornados, 4-0. Lander's Tyler Riendeau (1-0) collected the win, while Alyssa Miller (3-6) took the loss for the Tornados.

Lander took a 1-0 lead in the first when Melanie Davis' sacrifice fly scored Sheriff. The Bearcats made it 2-0 in the fifth after Sheriff singled, advanced to third on two Brevard errors, then scored on a wild pitch.

Brevard threatened in the sixth frame, loading the bases with zero outs as Brittany Tucker and Emily Boykin hit singles to open the inning and Clemens reached on a fielder’s choice to put the Tornados in prime scoring position. However, Brevard was unable to open the floodgates as Lander shut the Tornados down retiring the next three batters to keep the shutout intact.

The Bearcats scored their final two runs in the sixth. Sheriff's RBI double to centerfield plated pinch runner Kelsey Davis to stretch the Bearcat lead to 3-0, then Donson's RBI single drove home Sheriff.

For Lander, Sheriff went 2-for-3 with one double and Melanie Davis batted 2-for-2.

Brevard remains on the road as they open South Atlantic Conference play at Mars Hill College on Saturday, March 10th. First pitch in the doubleheader between the Tornados and the Lions is set for 1 p.m.